AUDUBON, Pa. (WLVT) — The blacklegged tick, the primary carrier of Lyme disease, is the dominant tick species in Pennsylvania, according to a recent Penn State study.
Also known as a deer tick, the bug has been found in all 67 counties in the Commonwealth.
"Montgomery County has been bad for awhile. We’ve been a tick hot zone for at least 10 years or more," said Steve Gerloff, environmental field services supervisor for the Montgomery County Office of Public Health. "I’ve gone out and found 50 ticks in a small area."
PBS39 caught up with Gerloff at the John James Audubon Center while he went to work collecting ticks. He wears rubber boots to walk through the heavily forested areas of the park and drags a large piece of felt fabric through the brush to collect the ticks.
"The objective is to drag this in an area that is a suitable habitat and collect the ticks in that habitat," Gerloff explained. "The material is chosen because ticks will cling to it and it’s a light color, so the ticks are easier to see."
He wears special goggles that allow him to spot the small critters on the cloth. All of the ticks that he collects will be sent to a state lab for testing.
"The samples go back to our office and we submit them to the state DEP. They identify everything we send them and test for Lyme disease," he said.
Lyme disease is transmitted by the bite of an infected blacklegged tick. According to the Mayo Clinic, a small red bump similar to a mosquito bite often appears on the skin. The clinic says anyone who thinks they have signs and symptoms of Lyme disease, which may include swelling in the area of the bite, fever and fatigue, should contact their physician immediately.
Gerloff says treatment for Lyme disease is more effective if started early.
"With anything, early detection is best, especially with ticks," said Gerloff, who recommends inspecting yourself for ticks after spending time outdoors.
To prevent ticks from landing on you, he recommends sticking to park trails and manicured areas. He says wearing bug spray with DEET, a chemical-based bug repellant developed by the US Army, is also a good idea.
Hobbyist nature photographer Joe Bainbridge told PBS39 he always wears bug repellant at the park.
"I spray myself with repellant before I come out," said Bainbridge. "I’m cautious as I walk around and try to stay away from the higher weeds. When I get home, I thoroughly check myself for ticks and take a shower before I start looking over my pictures."
Visit PA Lyme Resource Network for more information about tick prevention and Lyme disease.